Papal States 1696 testone KM-594

Goldberg sale 109, lot 2710

This specimen was lot 2710 in Goldberg sale 109 (Los Angeles, January 2019), where it sold for $840. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Italian States: Papal/Roman States. Testone, 1696. Anno VI. Innocent XII. Sharply struck with light gray toning. NGC graded MS-63." Berman lists ten different testone for this pope. Many varieties also come without date; none are rare. The testone was thirty baiocchi, while the piastra, the Italian equivalent of the German thaler, was 105 baiocchi (3½ testone). The reverse motto, "ROGATE·EA/QVAE·AD·PACEM/SVNT", means "They requested peace".

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 9.16 g, silver, 0.917 fine.

Catalog reference: Berman-2250, KM-594.

Source:

• Berman, Allen G., Papal Coins, South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1991.
• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• ^[1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, John Lavender, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 109: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2019.

Link to:

• 1693 testone, "QVI MISERETVR BEATVS ERIT", Innocent XII
• 1696 giulio
• 1696 piastra, pope and consistory
• 1696 piastra, pope enthroned
• 1699 testone, "PRAEOCCVPEMVS/FACIEM EIVS"
• Coins and currency dated 1696
• return to coins of the Papal States